How To Play

How to play

Improve your Mahjong skills every time!

Step 1: Setting Up the Game

Tiles: Mahjong is played with a set of 144 tiles. The tiles are divided into several categories:

• Bamboo tiles (1-9).
• Round tiles (1-9).
• Chinese characters (1-9).
• Dragons (red, green, white).
• Winds (east, south, west, north).
• Flowers and seasons (special tiles).
• Shuffle the tiles: All tiles are turned face down and mixed. Each player builds their wall by laying out 18 tiles in two rows of 9 tiles.
• Distributing the tiles: Each player takes 13 tiles. Players must leave one tile in their wall to take the last tile when finishing their turn.

Step 2: Rules for Taking Tiles

• Starting a Turn: The player sitting in the east makes the first move. He draws a tile from the common wall or takes a tile from the previous player’s discard pile.
• Discarding Tiles: After a player draws a tile, he may discard one tile that he does not like. It is placed face up on the common table.

Forming Combinations:

• Pong: Three identical tiles (e.g. three dragons).
• Chi: Three consecutive tiles of the same suit (e.g. 5, 6, and 7 bamboo).
• Kang: Four identical tiles.
• Pair: Two identical tiles that are needed to complete the game.

Step 3: Completing the Game

• Completing Combinations: To complete the game, a player must form 14 tiles in a combination: 4 combinations (Pong, Chi, or Kang) and 1 pair.
• Announcement Mahjong: When a player has collected all the required tiles and completed the game, he announces “Mahjong” and places his tiles on the table.
• Scoring: After the game is over, points are calculated based on the combinations you have made. Points are awarded for Pong, Chi, Kang, and special tiles like dragons and seasons.

Step 4: Game Strategies

• Keep an eye on the tiles: Pay attention to the tiles that other players are discarding and try to plan your moves accordingly.
• Don’t be afraid to discard unnecessary tiles: If you have a few extra tiles, discard them to speed up the process.
• Use dragons and seasons for bonus points: Dragons and season tiles can significantly increase your points, so don’t forget about them.

Step 5: Continuing the game

• Next rounds: After one player has finished the game, a new round begins. Players move clockwise and a new player becomes east. The game continues until a predetermined number of rounds is reached or until one player has the most points.

Tips for Beginners

• Keep a close eye on the tiles that other players discard.
• Develop your strategy depending on the tiles you have in your hand.
• Take your time, plan each move in advance to achieve victory.